Flat-bed knitting-machine.



-APPLIQATION FILED MAB.23, 1910.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

Patented .15.11.23, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED IIAR-23, 1910.

115,668 Mtented Jan.23,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR. 23. 191.0.

.Patente-d Jan. 23, 1912.

l0 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Elf/140 E. DUBIBD.

PLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAR.23, 1910,

Lls, Patented Jan.23,1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

E. DUBIEDi FLAT BED KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR-23, 1910.

1,015,668 Patented 52111.23, 191.2

10 SHEETS-SHEET 6v E. DUBIED.r

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

APPLIcAToN FILED Mums, 19104 Patented @11.231913 10 SHEETS-SHEET 7.

wwwa

E. DUBIED.

PLAT BBD KNLTTING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MANN, 1910.

Patented Jan. 23, 1912.

10 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

CM/ @Tm MM E. DUBIED.

PLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED MAR.23. 1910.

Patented 52111.23, 1912.

lo'sHEETs-SHBBT 9.

(2Q/WM.

E. DUBIED.

FLAT BBD KNITTING MACHINE.

AYPLICATION FILED MAR.23, 1910.

' inarknd hei'eon, which forni' a..

iipplicaltion 'ile. llarch 1916. Serial No.

Specicaton o' Let-'ters atezit.

l'o all whom ii may comem:

- E@ it known that 1, lilooUAnn citizen of the 'Ropuhlio of Switzerland,rosiding t Convoi., inho @anion oi Nanaimolylopublio'oi Switzerland.,(whose p office address Convoi.) have inrsnieil certain new and usefulln'iprm'oinenls in Flat-Bod lini' '.in`-ll'nohinos; and l do herebydeclare he. following to he a. iull.7 clear. :incl @met description ofthe invenion., such Domien, zr

as Vwill enable oihors Skil-lod in lho aitio which it Lippert-anis toinane and nso *rho saine, reference being had to the accompany@ ingdrawings, and. to leiiers of vroioionoe part of i'his speoiicntion.

Knitting-inachinos in 'whioh sho needlehoil is autonmtionlly racked orshogged required to snit the fabric hy means oi n pniioin i'nch-.inisinalready known. ln iliose Cases, however, wher@ *or'e "L 'i'.fickodpnttorns had io he proflnsoo. in tho saine artid@ n very longl paiternchain 'was quired, `as the chain had lo romain in operadming the Wholeprocess of knitting Such long- Chain.. besides being had thedisailinnl'nge that ii had altered over Yiis eniiio 'lil'i'o niiiole.expensive, io he changed or length, whon' it W: o ih@ racked pual-nseven ill it was only 'to the extont of one row of loops, which tool; upninoh time intl involved oonsiilornhl@ expense.

1n the anoniziiio racking or shogging io-l vii-o 'forming ihe suhjevt1h@y present invention z. separato ijmitorn mechanism i proviiloil 'for@zich polini-ii siii-.h iniolninishs boing soparzi'i'ely nnil indoiiaonother brought ini@ und ont notion "ihrongh one Connnon nniinchnin. auchoi ih@ snifi ineohunisins cmisiin"4 n slugging of in@ noedlelred. Bythis n ngmnont the lhe accompanying iwings'illnsiinfo ihn invention byway o1 oxfnnplo in ono 'Forni of construction of n needle-heil shoggingloN fico for lnil'ing machines for producing inhrics Wiih thro@clileron; alierns .Figure Lis nn fnd View of 'he machine looking` fromwhat is the righ hand emi in .if Fig. 2 s a part sectional 'plan of Fig.Eig. 3 =n elevalion oiif'iho mor Chino looking from wlmi the lofthz'inil side. 1n Fig. 1. Eig. Ll is .i plan of the zich 1 main andpattern Ming mechanism for the nei'fossnr); to alter on@ ly of @zich lThe noodles in rho hocl 1.

i l l l i i i i i i i l l l l nnisin partly in sociion.

'- neoillo-hoil innnwr oif noi-dio piivlws in one direction or chainsfliO. 5 is 2L xont elevation o1i *alle leiit end portion of the machine.-lf*`,ig. 6 is, v21 diagram of the fabric produced bjfthe machine. 1Fig. 7 Ais :i part end oleviicion looking 'from what is/the left handSido lin Fig. Fig. 8 is n planof Fig. 7. Eig. 9 is a. deiail of Fig. T.Fig. 10 is a section on the line fir-B ol" Fig. 12. Fig. 11is a. doftail of Fig. 10. Fig. 12 is n front elevation of the right ondpoition ofthe machine on :i larger soule Fig'. 1:5 is n section on the line Cdl)of Fig. 1Q. Fig. 1l shows a d@ iail taken from Fig. 12. Fig. 15 is apl-.in corrospon-fling to Fig. 12. Fig'. 1G is n seoiion'on the line141-1? of Fig; 15. Fig. 17 is n. ifont olnifniion o1 illeCoi'itrollinginechlig. 18 is an end View looking from whatzis lhe lefthand end in Fig. 17. Fig'. 19 shows a. portion of tho oo ntioliingnieohnnisin. Fig. 20 is n section on the lino G-*lfl of Fig. 1T, shown.from the left sido. Fig'. Q1 is n section on the line J-li of Fig. 1Tshown iroin the loft side.

1 donoos tho rear needle .hed sliilzihly a1- rnng'ecl `'fiihin theiii-mno oi ih@ lnitiing machine; nifl needle heil Carries :i guido'piero 2 loos/ol)v embracing n rod T secured in the fr-.aine 5 l, 1G, TwoStuds lined on the guido pisco engage boih sides und Connected with uratchet Wheel 8 (Fi 1. 107 1l. 12. 15. 1(3). The laitier has l'wo rowso'i opposiloljv iliioiocl teeih, iho pitch of 'the iooi'h Correspondingio tho pitch of'iho steppoil anni l.. while the hoigjht of che siens oi"the luiloi' is equal lo the pi'oh of lo'ih rows of eol'h oil therzxtrhol Whoo! S zii-o engaged hy pzmls unil lo .iosi'iooiix'ely soilmi'. when ihn rnl'chot'ivliooi l'zuhed hyriiher of ih@ prin'ls lo lh@exenl ol ono or more tooth the 1 is shongml :1. Corresponding lf'efxnrod "ro the stopped com 4. is n noli-hoo n'lwol l1. tho noi-chesof Whioh'zife :i (loloni' l2 (Figs. 3. l0. lf2, 'whivh is prossmlagainst l'he notched Wheel h3' ino-.ins oi: :i lover l?) fixed on therook shaft ih@ miner.

1l, ihns prevailing: nroicloninl rotation of lho :nn who@ il. Tho simil'1&1 is carried in hearings 30 fixed on has@ plaie 32 (Figs. 1, 3 v

and 5).

but is prevented from axial movement thereon. On the shaft 14 (Figs. 4,10, 12, 15 and 16) is fixed a lever 17 which carries on a pivot 18 thetwo pawls 9,10 which are pressed against the teeth of the ratchet-wheel8 by means of the springs 19, 20. On the shaft 14 (Figs. 1, 3 and 4) aremounted arms 23, 24, 25 with cam-blocks having oblique working surfaces,against which a roller 26 strikes at each str ke of the carriage 27. Themiddle arm 24 carries a block having two oppositely disposed workingsurfaces, one of which is parallel to the working surface of the arm 23,and the other parallel to the working surface of the arm 25.Accordingly,iat each stroke of the carriage, the shaft 14 is rocked onceforward and once backward through the co-action of the roller 26 withthe said surfaces, whereby the arm 17 fixed on the rock shaft 14 andcarrying` the pawls 9 and 10 nieves up and down while the lever 13 movesbackward and forward.

On the shaft 6 is niounted a chain drum 28 adapted to carry the patternchain (Fi gs. 1, 3, 12, 13, 15 and 16) and the shaft'` 29, which isfixed in a bracket on the base plate 32, carries two chain drums 34 and35, each of which rotatable on the said shaft 29. Each of the said chain.drums has a ratchet wheel 36, 37, 38, (Figs. 12, 15 and 16),l actuatedby pawls 39,' 40 and 41 respectively (Figs. 1, 3, 12, 13, 14, 1.6)ywhich pawls are pivoted on pins 42, 42, 43 (Figs. 1, 4, 14, 13 and 16)carried on the levers 44, 45 and 45n fixed on the rock shaft 14. Thepawls 39, 40, 41 are normally pressed by means of springs 87, 88, 89,against pins 90 on the levers 44, 45, 45a. An oscillatingmovement isimparted to the levers 17, 44,

'and 45"L as they are rigidly, fixed to the shaft 14.

The shaft 52 (Figs. 1, 12, 13,14, 15) carries pawls 53, 54. 55, whichare kept in engagement with the ratchet wheels 3G, 37, 38 by means ofsprings.02 attached to the carriage guide so that backward rotation ofthe chain drums 28, 34, 35, is prevented. The chain drums 28,`l 34, 35,carry pattern chains 66, 67, 68 (Figs. 12, 13, 15) to each of which maybe screwed two rows of studs 69, in any desired position according tothe requirements of the patternI of the fabric which studs act uponfeeler levers 70. 7l, 72, 73, 74, 75, upon rotation of the chain drums28, 34 and 35, and advance of thepattern chains 66, 67, 68. The levers70, 72, 74 are secured on the shaft 15,. and the .levers 71, 73, '75,are fixed on the shaft 52. Theplevers 70,v 7.1, 72, 73, 74, 75 are'pressed against the n pattern chains "i6, 67., |18 by means of springs76 (Fig. 13) enga, fin a` the levers 70 and 71.

The nvm-s 70,71. (Fig-s. i0, 11, is and 15) have downwardly extending`arms 77, 78 the i lower ends of which are connected by means i of rods81, 82 with cams 83, 84 loosely mounted on the shaft 6 between thestepped cam wheel 4 and the chain drum 28l (Fig. 16).l The pawls 9 and10 have side projections 85, 86 in engagci'nent with the cams 83, A84(Figs. 11 and 15).

Under the pawls 39, 40, 41 (Figs. 3, 12, 13, 16) are arranged knock-olffingers 91, 92, 93 which are secured to shafts 94, 95, 96

which latter are carried in bearings 97, 98.`

99 fixed on the base plate 32. At the left hand ends of the shafts 94,95, 96 are secured lever-s100, 101, 102, (Figs. 3 and 5) which areconnected by means of rods 103, 104, 105 with levers 107, 108, 109, onthe shaft 106 (Figs. 3, 5, 7 and 8). The'levers 1 08, 109, 1,10 aresubjected to the downward tension of the springs 111. The shaft 106 isrotatably mounted in the left hand end of the machine frame 5; the lever107 being secured to said shaft while the levers 108, 109 are looselymounted thereon. The lever 107 is positively connected with a feelerlever 110 through the shaft 106. Upon a pin 1113 fixed to the machineframe are loosely mounted hooked catches 114,115,116 each of which ispressed by means of a spring 117 against one of the levers 108, 109,110. Below these levers is a chain drum 121 rotatably mounted on a shaft120 fixed to the machine frame which chain drum carries the main patterncontrolling chain 122 having. the same number of rows of pattern studs124, 124, 125a of various licight,'as

` there are pattern-chains (in the present case therefore three) whichpattern studs engage with the levers 1.08, 109, 110, upon rotation ofthe chain drum 121, 2'. e. upon feeding of'the chain 122. rThe mainchain drum 121 has on its right hand side a ratchet wheel 126 the teethof which are engaged by a pawl 127 pivotcd on 'a pin 128 carried by alever 129 fixed on the shaft'. 14 (Figs. 7 and 8). cured to it at theleft hand side a notched wheel 130 the notches of which are engaged by acatch 131 which, when the m'ain chain drum 121 is at rest, is pressedagainst the notched wheel by a. lever 132 secured to the shaft 1.4(Figs. '5, 7 and 8), accidental movement or sudden advance of themain-chain drum 121 being,r thus prevented.` rllhe catch 131 ispivotally mounted on the shaft 106.

The main pattern controlling chain 122 is brought into and ont of actionby a'spccial controlling mechanism hereaftcrdescribedl See Figs. 5, 7and 8.

A double armed lever 135 whichis pivotally mounted on a shaft 1.37 fixedin the machine frame 5, bears with its forward end (right hand) upon themain pattern chain 122; the pawfl 127 has a pin 138 with which it restson the level-'135, said pawl being thusI -prevented from engaging theratchet wheel 120 when the lever 135 'is The main chain wheel 121 hassev diately behind the lever 'tends to return the catch into its normalpof, noon reciprocation of noiaees raised by a stud 124a on the chain.ln this position ot the lever its rear end is arrested by a catch 188,the further racking or feeding of the main chain 122 being therebyprevented. The lever 135 remains in the position shown until the catch"139 is withdrawn trono the lever by means ot the wire through the actionot the controlling mechanism whereupon the lever drops and the pawl 127eng@A` s the teeth of the ratchet wheel 120 whereby the feeding of themain chain is continued. The catch 139 is pivotally mounted within itssupport 141 which is fixed to the base plate 132 imme- 12" A spring 142JLU vi) 5 sition.

The periodical throwing into and out otA .ac-tion of the pattern chainsGG, 67, 68 and the stepped cam 4 is effected by the main chain 122 (Fig.3). The chain drum 121, carrying the main chain 122 is operated :tromthe rock shaft 14 (Figs. 7 and 8) to which an oscillating movement isimparted v the carriage 27 (Figs. ffl and 4) -by the cooperation olf theroller 26 'with the arms 28, 24, Each backward oscillation oi the rockshaft 14, v. e. in the direction of the arrow indicated in Figs. 7

and 10, eli'ects an advance of the. ratchet wheel 126 and thereby alsoan advance of the main chain 122 through the intermediary of the lever129 and the pawl 127 when the double lever 135 is lowered.

When one of the low studs 124 (Figs. 3, 5, 7) on the main chain strikesone ot the levers 108, 109, 110 for instance the lever 110, the latterlis raised and engaged by a corresponding catch 114 until one oit thehigh studs 125a in the same row strikes the toe of the catch 114throwing the latter out of engageinent with the lever 110 which is thenreturned to its normal position through the action of the spring 111. Inraising' f the lever 110 'the shaft 04 is turned through theintermediary olf the shaft I106 the lever 107 the rod 103 and the lever100 thereby moving the knotlr--oil' nger 01 out ot enp -agement with thepawl 39 (Fig, 13).

At each stroke of the carriage the pat tern chain drum 28 is turned tothe extent of one tooth by means of. the shaft 14 through theintermediary of the pawl 39 on the lever 44. This turning continuesuntil the lever 110 is again released. It one of the chain studs 69fixed to the pattern chain G6 which is Athus fed strikes one oi thefeeler levers 70, 71 for instance the lever 70, the shaft 15 as also thecam 83 are partially rotated in the direction indicated bythe arrow inFig. 10; the cam 88 is moved through the intermediary of the rod 81-andthe'lever 77.v The projection 85 of the pawl 9 slips of the cam 83 andthe pawl 9 engages one of the teeth ot the ratchet Wheel 8 and -sitioir'push-pawls 1757 174,

rotates at the next downward movement o' the lever 17 the stepped camwheel 4 to the extent of one step to the front, inasmuch as both pawls9, 10, have an up and down motion in consequence of being pivoted onvthe lever 17. The said racking or turning of the stepped cam 4 eliectsa shogging of the needle-bed 1 to the extent oi" as many needle pitchesto the lett as teeth of the ratchet wheel, and therebyof 'the cam, havebeen successively racked. lf a stud 69 or. the pattern 'chain 06 strikesthe lever 71 the shaft 52 will be partially rotated and thereby by meansof the rod 82and the' lever 78 also the cam 84 (Fig. 11). The projection8G of the pawl 10 slips oil the cam 84, the pawl 10 engages with theother row of teeth of the ratchet wheel 8 and turns, at the nextdownward movement of the" lever 17 the stepped cam 4 to the extent ofone step to the rear whereby the `needle bed 1 is shogged from lett toright.v llhesprings 7 6 effect the return of the levers 7 0, 71, v72 73,74, 7 5 into normal position after the' chain studs 69 have passed them.The throwing into action of the other pattern chains 67 andtS iseffected by the other rows of studs 124, 125 on the main chain 122,striking the corresponding levers 108, 109.

Figs. 17 to 20 show an extremely suitable controlling mechanism for then iain chains 122. rllhe controlling apparatus has a countery drum 143,Fig. 17, which is loosely mounted on the shaft 144 held in brackets 145,146V and is provided externally with double helicalgrooves 147, 148along which run index marks numbered tor instance from 1 to .1000.Nithin the grooves 147 the drum143 are slidable Contact blocks 149, 150,151, 152, 153 which may be fixed in poln the helical grooves 148 (Figs.17, 19) on the drum 148 slides the lower portion 155 of a reversingsleeve 156 which is slidably mounted on a shaft 158 with a key. way 157engaged by a key bloclr 159 (Fig. 20) of the sleeve-156 which is thusprevented from rotation on the shaft. 'Ehe shaft 158 is cai ried in thebrackets 145, 146. The reversing sleeve 156 carries loosely two teelerlevers 160 and 151 17, 20 and 21) which are in operative connection withthe rocking levers 104, 105 through the intermediary ot pins 102, 163.The rocking levers 164, engage with their upper .t'orked portions acranked shaft 167 which is carried by the brackets 145, 146 (Fig. 17)and has secured. to it the lever 168 (Figs. 17, 18) which is connectedby means of the rod 1.69 with the lever 170.

For the rocking or rotation of the drum 143, at each stroke or" thecarriage there are arranged a'lever 171 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) two (Figs.18, 19) as also two ratchet wheels175, 176 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) which arerigidly secured to the drum f 158 (Fig. 17)- has secured to it a lever176* vented.v

fixed. on the latter.

which 1s in connection through the intermediary of a' pin 178 ,with thereversing cam 177 (Figs. 17, 18, 19) which is loosely mounted on theshaft 144 between the bracket 145 (Fig. 17 and the ratchet Wheel 175.Between the two ratchet wheels 1 75, 176 (Figs. 17 and 18, 19) arearranged the two pawl carriers 179, 180, which form with each other akind of tongs, a spring 181. (Fig. 19) tending to keep the tongsconstantly closed when they are`not forced open by the lever 171 whichreceives its upward movement from the connecting-rod head 182 with theroller 182@l (Figs. 3, 17 and 18). -The drum 143 has further fixed to itthe retaining wheel 184 the teeth of which are engaged by a springactuated pin 183 any undue ro tation of the drum 143 being thereby pre-The connecting-rod head 182 with the roller 182a (Figs. 3, 17, 18) whichare fixed to the driving chain 154. of the 'knitting niachine, move thelever 171 upward whereby the pawl carriers 179, 180 are forced apartowing to the beveled faces lof their lower ends, the pawl 173, being inaction, when the cam 177 is in the corresponding position shown in Figs.18 and 19, moves the ratchet wheel 175 to the extent ofl one tooth' andthe drum 143 to the extent of one index pitch in the direction of thearrow indicated in Figs. 18 and 19. This action is repeated every timethe connecting-rod head 182 (Fig. 17) is brought under the lever 171through the movement -of the driving chain. The pawl 173 remainsoperative until the'projecting toe 220 of the contact block 152 (Fig.17) strikes the downwardly extending projection 155 of the reversingsleeve 156 thus partially rotating the latter and the shaft 158. By thisrotation of the shaft 158 the lever 176* is also rotated which lattermoves the reversing cam 177 by means of the pin 178 which is Inlconsequence of the rotation of the cam 177 the pawl 173 is brought tobear-on the face 185 of the cam 17 7 thus preventing its engagement withthe ratchet wheel 175. The pawl 174 slips off the face 186 of the cam177 and drops into engagement with teeth of the ratchet wheel 176, whichteeth-are arranged in an opposite direction to the teeth of the ratchetwheel 175. The drum 143 is now rotated by the pawl 174 that is in theopposite direction to that imparted by the pawl 173, until acontaet'block'151 (Fig. 17) strikes the projection 155 of the reversingsleeve 156. Thereby the reversing cam 177 is again'brought into theformer position shown in Fig. 19,

, the pawl 173 being brought into operation while the pawl 174 is putout of action and v drum. A

the drum 143 (Fig. 17 is again rocked in the first mentioned direction.

The contact blocks 149, 150 are secured in the broad groove 147 but thereversing sleeve 156 with its lower end 155 is freely movable since theprojecting toes 220 are kept short and do not cover the narrow groove148. The contact blocksv 149, 150 thus act only on both feeler levers160 or 161 (Figs. 17, 2o, 21). The feeler levers 160'and 161 (Figs. 17,20, 21) are provided with slots 187, 188 (Figs. 20, 2l) so thatv theforked rocking levers 164, 165 can only be actuated, each in onedirection through the feeler levers by,

the forward and backward motion of the In the direction indicated bythev arrows in the Figs. 18 and 19, e. when the drum is rotated by thepawl 173, a contact block 149 striking the feeler lever 160 will movethe latter and also rock the forked lever 164,

theslot 187 being correspondingly arranged relatively to the pin 162 asshown in Fig. 20. 1f however in the direction indicated, a contact block150 (Figs. 17, 21) 'engages the .feeler 4lever 161 the pin 163 slideswithin theslot 188 so that the forkedA lever 165 is not rocked as theblock150 slides past under the feeler lever 161 as shown in Fig. 21,without the latter actuating the forked lever 165. If on rotation of thedrum by means of the pawl 1.74, t'. e. in the direction opposite to thatindicated in Figs. 18 and 19 a contact block 149 comes into engagementFigs. 17 and 20) with a feeler lever 160 the latter will move away fromthe pin 162 in consequence of its slot 187' (Fig. 20) and will notactuate the forked rocking lever 164. However in the same direc-tion ofrotation the block 150 will engage the feeler lever 161 in such mannerthat the forked lever 165 is rocked thereby. In order to return thefeeler levers 160, 161, again into their original positions, when thecontact blocks 149, 150 have passed beneath them without actuating theforked rocking levers 164, 165, respectively, each of the feeler levers160, 161 is provided wit-h a spring 166 (Figs. 17 20, 21) which tends tokeep the said feeler levers 160, 161, againstthe pins 162'and 163respectively.

The main chain 4122 of the knitting machine is brought automaticallyinto and out of action in the following manner. The y controlling lever170 is onnected by means of a steel wire 140 with tie catch 139 (Figs.1, 7, 8, 17 and 18) for the purpose of bringin'g the main chain .122into and out of operation. While the lever 170 is'in the positionshownin Fig. 18, the pawl 127 pivoted on the lever 129 serving for therocking of the ratchet wheel 126 of the main chain (Figs. 7 and 8) restsupon the double lever 135 through the intermediary' of the pin -V 164with its4 upper for ed portion'. impart-s lever 168, whereby the lever'170 is direction to the arrow in Figs. 18 and 19 a tion of the drum'143by'meanscfsthe pawl -the steel wire 1'40 from engagement with the haspassed through under the feeler lever 160 v,156) the main chain 122 willbe brought into -action'simultancously with the reversal of I 138 and'isthusprevented from engagement with the ratchet wheel 126.`. The lefthand end of the double lever 135 is held down by the catch-139g atitsright hand`end the lever 135 has a hooked portion 189;" If on rota-173, z'. e. in the direction of the arrow Figs. 18 and 19 acontact block149 strikes the feeler lever 160 `F ig. 20 it then eifects rotation ofthe latter and moves the forked lever 164 by means f the vin 162. Thelever movement to the cranked shaft'167 and the raised the termediaryoffthe rod 169;

through 139 is thus withdrawn by means of the catch double lever 135.This lever 135 is now free and drops with its hooked portion 189 von thechain 122. When the contact block 149 on rotation of the drum -143 bymeans of the` pawl 173 the catch 139 isA returned' lto its formerposition by the spring 142 (Fig. 8) fceler lever 160 is returned intoits. former position by spring 166 (Figs. 17, 20). When the hooked'portion 189 of the lever 135 drops down, the pawl 127 falls 'intoengagement with the teeth of the ratchet wheel 126 and feeds the mainchain forward through the oscillation of the shaft 14, the said chain inits turn controls the automatic operations in the manner'described. 4Thepawl 127 remains in operation until a stud 124 on the main chain passesunder the double lever 135 which causes the leftliand end of the saidlever to pass beneath the catch 139 and is arrested in that positionvwhereby the pawl 127 and the main chain 122 are thrown out of action.If on rotation of the drum 143 by means of the pawl 174 z'. e. in theopposite contact block 150 strikes the feeler lever 161 the latter willbe rotated and the main hchain 122, brought into action in the samemanner as already described. The main chain 122 is thus. thrown into andout of action upon the forward or backward rotation of the drum 143, asmany times as there are contact blocks 149 and 150 respectively fixedinto the groove 147 and Aaslthese blocks maybe .adjusted in any desir dposition on the drum 143 the main chain 1' 2 may be brought into actionafter any desired number of rows of loops according to the position ofthe blocks.

Iflinstead of a contact block 152 a contact blockl 153 is placed withinthe groove 147 which block is so formed and arranged that it contactssimultaneously with the feeler lever 160 and the reversing member thedrum 143,A from forward to backward ro- 1 tation.

If the contact block 1511s so formed and arranged that it contacts atthe same time with the 'reversing member 155 and feeler 161 the mainchain v122'w1ll be brought into action simultaneously with the reversalfrom backward to forward rotation. lf, for in stance, the article to beproduced Shas7 80 rows of loops that'vnumberof rows will be countedforward and for the next article backward, that is, a contact block 151will 'Y be fixed von the index niark O and anotherl Contact block 153will be fixed at the mark 7 80, therefore the controlling mechanism,

will return into its initial position after.

every two articles made. 1f, however the article has for instance '1300rows, one contact block 152 is lixed at 650, this will represent650rows, on the forward rotation of the drum and again 650 rows on thebackward rotation, which is equal to 1300 rows. rl`his is on theassumption that the drum has 1000 index divisions.

The movement of the carriage 27 may be effected byhand or motor. Figs.1, 2 and 3 sh'ow an actuating arrangement which is suitable Afor manualor power operation. In .the frame of the machine is carriedl 'a shaft190 on the forward end of which is loosely mounted a crank handle, bossof which is provided with teeth at the rear. A collar-*192 also providedwith teeth is secured to the shaft 190. 1t is clear from the drawingthat manual rotation of t-he shaft 190 is only possible when the crankhandle is pushed back into engagement with the collar 192 and rotated ina clockwise direction. The rear end of the shaft 190 carries a clutch193 and a loose belt pulley 194 so that by means of the said clutch thepulley may be coupled to the shaft. For this purpose a bell' crank lever196 is pivoted to the machine frame at 195, the longer arm of whichlever is provided with a handle 197 the shorter arm engaging by 191, the

199 slidable upon the shaft 190. The said sleeve is so connected withthe clutch that upon corresponding movement of the bellcrank lever theforced against the inner periphery of the belt pulley thus couplingthelatter to the shaft. The motion of the shaft 190 is transmitted bymeans of toothed Wheels 200 and 201 to a shaft 202 which is supported ona hearing. 203 inthe machine frame and carries a chain wheel 204 at itsforward end. On the base plate 32 is fixed a bracket 210 for the shaft-205 of another chain wheel 206. A chain 154 is passed over the chainwheels 204, necting rod 207 is attached to one of the chain links theother end of said rod being connected to an arm 208 of the carriage 27.The arm 208 slides along .a guidebar 209 fixed-in the machine frame. 1tis to be understood from the above that motion may arms 193 of theclutch are 206 and the head 182 of a con- 1 three) least fourteen links.

be imparted to the carriage 27 by hand as also'by power.

Fig. 6 shows a diagram of a fabric of 140 rows of loops which may beknitted in the machine. ln thiscase the first 20 rows of loops areracked after every fourth stroke of the carriage, the following 110 rowsare racked after eachstroke of the carriage and finally the last 10 rowson every second stroke. If this pattern had to be produced on anordinary knitting machine the pat tern chain necessarily would be verylon-g.

In the new machine in addition to the main chain there are provided asmany smaller' chains as the number ofV different patterns in the fabric(in the present case Each of 'these chainscontains as many links as arenecessary to produce the particular pattern, for instance the chain forthat pattern where the rows of loops are to be racked after every secondstroke of the carriage has at least four links the sccond chain which isto cause the racking of the rows ot' loops after every stroke has atleast two links and the third chain for the racking of the loops onevery fourth stroke, at least eight links; this being in all at lnpreviously known machines a chain of M0 links would be necessary toproduce a fabric of this pattern.

lYhat l claim isa l. In an automatic racking device for the needle bedsof tlat bed knitting machines the coinbimitifni of a primary rotatingpattern controlling chain. a pluralityy of secondary rotatingpattern-chains, means for thrt'iwing cach of the seeoinlary rotatingpattern chains into and out of action apart from the others, by theprimary chain, a rotatable stepped cam, and means for rotating thestepped cam from each of the secondary pattern chains in one or theother direction.

ln an'automatic racking device for the needle beds of [lat bed knittingmachines the combination of a primaryrotating pat tern controllingchain, a. plurality of secondary rotating pattern chains, the primary.

rotating man1 pattern controlling chain having as many rows of studs asthere are secondary rotating pattern chains, each of the secondaryrotating pattern chains having a group of studs, the studs of thevarious groups being placed in different successions, means for throwingeach of the secondary rotating pattern chains into and out of actionapartfrom the others,'a rotatable stepped cam, and means for rotating.the stepped cam from each of the secondary pattern chains Ain one orthe other direction.

3. In a iiatfbed knitting machine thecombination of a slidablcneedldbed, a rotatable stepped cam wheel for shogging said needle-bed, acarriage sliding over the needle bed, mechanism actuated from thecarriage for counting the number of strokes, a primary patterncontrolling chain, means for operating said primary chain through thereciproeation of the carriage, a plurality of secondary pattern chains,means for throwing each of the secondary rotating chains into and outofaction apart from the others by the primary rotating chain, and meansfor rotating the stepped cam wheel, from each of the pattern chains, inone or the other direction.

A. In a flat bed knittingmachine, the combination of a slidableneedle-bed, a carriage adapted to slide over the needle-bed, saidcarriage .carrying a roller, a shaft, a plurality of arms fixed to theshaft carrying cam blocks adapted to coperate with said roller, a chaindrum, a primary rotating pattern controlling chain carried by the drum,a ratchet wheel connected to the drum, a lever fixed to the shaft, and apawl pivoted to the lever and engaging the ratchet wheel.

In a flat bed knitting machine, the combination of a primary chain, achain drum carrying said primary chain, several rows of alternating highand low studs on said chain, levers extending into the path of thesestuds, catches for arresting said levers, extensions on said catchesreaching into the pat-h of said studs, knock off fingers, and means fortransmitting the movement of said levers to said knock off fingers.

(5.-ln a flat bed knitting machine, the combination ofA a. slidableneedle bed, two studs carried thereby, a stepped cam wheel engaged bysaid studs, a ratchetwheel having two 'oppositely disposed sets teethand rigidly secured to said stepped cam, two cams partly projectingbeyond said ratchet teeth. two shafts disposed one on either side 'ofsaid stepped cam, two arms secured to the said shafts, and two rods,leach of which connects one of' said arms with one of said cams forimparting rotations to said cams.

7 In a flat bed knit-ting machine the combination of a stepped camwheel, a" {q het vwheel having two oppositely disposed sets of teeth andrigidly secured to said stepped ram, two rotatable cams, two rods forimparting rotation to said cams, two shafts disposed one on either sideof the stepped cam and two arms secured to the said shafts and`connected with said rods, arock shaft,

a lever secured tosaidvrock shaft, two pawls pivoted to said leverengaging said ratchet teeth, projections on said pawls extending intothe path of the said'cams, for preventing the engaging of the one, orthe other,

orboth of said pawls into the correspondin;- teeth.

, S. ln a llat bed knittingmachine a movable needle hed, studs mountedthereon, a stepped cam engaged by said studs, shafts,

`chain wheels mounted von said shafts, pattern chains carried thereby, anotched wheel Lomas@ rigidly connected with said stepped cam Wheel, twoshafts arranged one at each side of said pattern chain, a detent looselymounted on one of said shafts and adapted to engage said notched Wheeland a lever mounted on said rock shaft and adapted to actuele said,detent.

In testimony whereof, I have signedfmy name to this specicton inthevpresence oftwo subscriblng Witnesses.

EDOUARD DUBIED. Witnesses:

HERMANN HUBER, v 1 CARL GUBLER.

